Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Samarkand the Center of the World: Proposals for the Identification of the Afrasyab Paintings

Abstract:In antiquity Samarkand was the capital of the Persian province of Sogdiana. Its language, culture, and “Zoroastrian” religion closely approximated those of the Persians. Following its conquest by Alexander, its strategic position and fertile soil made Sogdiana a coveted prize for Late Antique invaders of Central Asia. Around 660 CE — at the dawn of Arab invasion — local king Varkhuman promoted the execution of a unique painted program in one of his private rooms. Each wall was dedicated to a specific population: the north wall, the Chinese; the west, the Sogdians themselves; the east, the Indians and possibly the Turks. The south wall is probably the continuation of the scene on the west wall. In Chinese written sources, some support for this concept of the “division of the world” can be found. Accidentally discovered during Soviet times, the room was named “Hall of the Ambassadors” due to the representations of different peoples. However, many aspects of its painted program remain obscure. This study offers new ideas for better identifications of the rituals celebrated by the people on the different walls during precise moments of the year.Table of Contents:AcknowledgmentsGeneral IntroductionPART ONE HISTORYI. Historical and Geographical IntroductionI.1 The LandI.2 The PeopleII. History of SogdianaII.1 The Ancient PeriodII.2 The Period of Bactrian DominationII.3 The Coming of the TurksII.4 Tang ImperialismII.5 The Arab InvasionII.6 IslamizationPART TWO IDENTIFICATIONI. The Discovery of the Afrasyab PaintingsII. The So-called “Hall of the Ambassadors” at AfrasyabII.1 Description of the ScenesII.2 The Western WallII.3 The Southern WallII.4 The Northern WallII.4.1 The Hunting SceneII.4.2 The Aquatic SceneII.5 The Eastern WallIII. ConclusionPART THREE WRITTEN SOURCESI. The Importance of the Written SourcesII. Chinese SourcesIII. Islamic SourcesIV. Sources in Middle Iranian LanguagesV. Byzantine SourcesAppendix: The Chinese DynastiesList of AbbreviationsBibliographyPrimary SourcesSecondary SourcesGeneral Index